Henggongyu

Overview

Henggongyu lives in the Stone Lake of the Northern Wilderness section of the Shenyi jing. The lake remains frozen except for a limited period near the summer solstice. The fish resembles a red carp and is given a large literary length. During the day it stays in the water; at night it turns into a person.

The account says that stabbing does not penetrate it and ordinary boiling does not kill it. It then supplies a special exception involving two dark plums. These actions belong to the narrative’s rules and are not instructions for handling real fish. The passage also attributes a protective dietary effect to eating it. No romance or named human visitor appears in this witness: the transformation, daytime habitat, resistance, and exception are the supported substance of the account.

Origins & earliest records

China; Shenyi jing received text

Records & interpretation

Directly read named primary-text passage. Hosted introductory discussion disputes attribution to Dongfang Shuo; no secure Han composition date asserted.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Shenyi jing

   Traditionally attributed to Dongfang Shuo; attribution disputed

   Northern Wilderness; Stone Lake account; received text and displayed notes distinguished.

Family & connections

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Primary records and illustrations

References

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1. Primary-text transcriptionShenyi jing: Northern Wilderness; Stone Lake accountResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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